Rotary burner



Feb. 26, 1946. w, M FULTON ROTARY BURNER Filed Api-i1 4, 1944 v, ///X/X/X -M/47.

WN @Nl 3mm/Mov Feb. 26, 1946. w. M. FULTON ROTARY BURNER s sheetssheet 2 Filed vApril 4, 1944 2 ,f E i 2 f @I3/W im.- y j f wA #An glgg- Patented Feb. 26, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OEI-'ICE ROTARY BURNER Weston M. Fulton, Knoxville, Tenn., assignor to W. J. Savage Company, Inc., Knoxville, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Application April 4, 1944, Serial No. 529,501 4 Claims. (Cl. 110-35) This invention relates to an improvement in rotary burners of the character designed primarily for the burning of solid fuel, such as coal, coke and other combustion products.

I have set forth in my copending application on Fuel burners, Ser. No. 529,503, filed April 4, 1944, the method of burning solid fuel in rotary burners and controlling the rate of combustion by controlling the speed of rotation of the burner and the amount of air supplied thereto. In the burner set forth in said application, the air supplied to the burner was admitted to air passages leading lengthwise through the wall of the burner and discharged into the burner through slots at the inner sides of the air passages. Under some conditions it. may be desirable to utilize other forms of burners and to control the supply of air thereto in other ways.

The object of this invention is to simplify and improve the construction of the burner and the manner of admitting air thereto from around the sides of the burner without passing lengthwise through air passages in the walls of the burner.

This object is accomplished by forming perforations in the periphery of the burner, according to the preferred embodiments thereof, `and controlling the air admission through certain of the perforations by surrounding bands that enclose the burner and regulate the portion thereof through which air is admitted.

These embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings, in which: i

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the invention applied to a heater and stoker system;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the burner;

Fig. 3 is a cross section therethrough on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through a modified form of burner made according to this invention; and

Fig. 5 is a cross section therethrough on the line 5--5 of Fig.v4.

Although the invention may be applied in Various forms of heaters, stokers, and the like, it is shown in Fig. 1,-as applied to a fuel burner for a furnace, of the character set forth generally in my copending application on Fuel burners, Ser. No. 529,503. The furnace is designated generally by the numeral I and is shown as of the hot air type having a surrounding heating chamber for receiving products of combustion from the burner, designated generally at 2. The burner 2 is cylindrical and has one end open into a chamber 3 for discharging products of combustion therefrom, through which they are directed into the furnace I.

One end of the burner is provided with a spherical portion 4 mounted in a seating ring 5 that is supported beside the furnace I about the open side of the chamber 3. The opposite end of the burner 2 is supported against a burner head 6 which in turn is supported by a base 1 adjustably supported by the floor F of the furnace room. The head 6 covers the inlet open end of the burner 2 in bearing relation thereagainst, the burner having a flange 8 surrounding said open end for bearing relation against the inner face of the burner head 6.

The burner head 6 is adapted to supply fuel to the burner for combustion therein. The fuel is supplied from a hopper 9 containing conveyor feeding means for directing the solid fuel from the hopper into a down-spout I that discharges the fuel directly through the burner head 6 into the open end of the burner near the bottom thereof. This conveying mechanism is driven by ratchet means II operated by gearing enclosed within a gear box I2, which gearing is driven by a step-cone pulley I3, belt I4, and step-cone pulley I from a motor IG.

The gearing located in the gear box I2 also drives shafts I1 which extend to opposite sides of the burner 2 andrcarry pinions I8 thereon, meshing with a ring gear I9 xed on the periphery of the burner 2, by means of a T-ange (see Fig. 2). The burner 2 is rotated during operation, and is shown as being rotated in clockwise direction.

Normally the fuel bed would be maintained in the lower portion of the burner with its level indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 at B, having the major portion thereof at one side of an upright plane extending longitudinally through the central axis of the' burner. Provision is made for admitting air into the burner to support the combustion, at intervals along the length of the burner, but only in the region thereof covered by the fuel bed B. .Perforations 2I are formed in a series at each of aplurality of points spaced lengthwise of the burner 2, forming air intakev ports to admit air to the interior of the burner at desired points ,along the length thereof.

The periphery of the burner is cylindrical and smooth. Bands 22, preferably of sheet ImetaI, are fitted snugly around the circumference of theburner and are held in place by having vtheir 'ends drawn together and secured by bolts 23 extending through the out-turned end portions thereof. Although these bands t snugly on the f burner, they are suficiently loose to permit rota- .tion of the |burner relative thereto 'while the bands are held stationary. Each of the bands is provided with a wind box 24. extending in .arcuate direction about the periphery of the burner, but through a shortersegment than the segmentof the fuel :bed B. The inner sidel'of each wind box 2 is open to the perforations 2|, so as to supply air therethrough to the interior of the burner throughout the circumferential region of the burner covered by the wind box 24. One of the bands 22 is shown to be of greater Width than the other, to cover two rows of perforations or ports 2l, and the wind box 24 of said burner extends over both sets of ports, as shown.

The wind boxes 24 have a common air intake duct 25 that has lateral passages 26, leading to the respective wind boxes 24. The duct 25 extends from the wind boxes 24 to a blower 2l mounted beside the motor IB and having the rotor thereof -xed lon the armature shaft of the motor. Thus the blower 2? will supply air to the burner through the duct 25 whenever the motor is operated to feed fuel into the burner.

The burner will be operated substantially in the man-ner Vset forth more in detail in my copendng application on Fuel burners, Ser. No. 529,503. lt wil lbe evident that after the re is started in the burner, the motor I6 may lbe operated to drive the fuel feeding conveyor in the hopper 3 andalsc the blower 2-1 to supply air to the burner. At the same time, the burner 2 will belrotated by the operation of the ring gear I9,

fixedon the T-flange 2l). The bands 22 and wind boxes'2ll will be retained in xed positions dur- `ing this Vrotation of the burner, so as to allow the burner to turn relative thereto.

During this operation of the burner, air will be suppliedby the blower 2,'1 to the wind boxes 24, which will then supply air through the ports 2| underneath the fuel bed B within the segment of the` wind boxes which is less than the segment ofthe burner covered by the fuel bed. This air will pass upwar'd through the fuel bed causing combustion of the fuel and of the gases therein, substantially as described more in detail in ifnyn copending application on Fuel burners, Ser.

No. 529.503. The air should-be admitted to the l burner at the desired Iintervals along the length thereof, three rows of airports being shown, althdig'h itis evident that any desired number o f rowsmay be used. The bands 22 and wind boxes -Zdfare held in place on the burner in proper positions over the air ports 2i by extending .into the spaces underlying opposite sides ofthe T-flange The smoke and 'products ofcombustion pass out through the open end of the burner into the chamber 3, thence'into the furnace 'l to heat the airih the 'air chamber of the furnace or other 'mediiiinto which the heat should be supplied. This furnace air Ychamber' is shown as formed with an 'extension 3| which enclos'es, the burner Zf't'o 'circulate 'the air from the air chamber of jthe furnace into 'heat exchange relation with the., 'periphery of vthe burner.v This air in the 'chamber 3| is heated by radiation from the burner 2 as it is circulated through the air chamber 3lr around the burner, thus obtaining Ymaximum eciency in the operation of the burner and effective heating of the air thereby.

Another form of burner is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, also shown tobe substantially cylindrical, and in which the burner is designated generally 32. This form of burner is shown as composed of a middle section 33 andend sections 4. The middle section 33 is larger in diameter than the end sections 311 and has offset shoulders 35 extending radially of the burner and joining said sections together, said shoulders being integral with these sections.

Each of the shoulders 35 has a series of air ports 36 therethrough in position for communication from the exterior to the interior of the burner, which ports 36 extend through the wall of the burner in a direction that is substantially [parallel with the' central axis of the burner. Bands 3l t loosely about the circumference of the respective end sections 34 and have flanges 38 thereon which'cove'r the ports 36, being slidable in contact with the intake sides of the ports.

The bands 3? are provided with wind Iboxes 39 extending throughout the lower segment of the burner in the region underlying the fuel bed 'but of shorterjcircumferential extent than the normal width of the fuel bed, as shown in Fig. 5. The flanges 38 have open slots 39 therethrough in the region covered by the Wind boxes 39 throughout the length of the latter in open communication from the wind boxes to the interior of the burner through all of the air ports 35 registering with the wind boxes.

The bands 37 and wind boxes 39 remain stationary while the burner 32 is rotated, having a sliding nt about the periphery of the burner, as described above. Air is supplied to the wind boxes 39 through an air duct 40 leading to a source of supply, such as a blower. as-shown in Fig. 1. The duct 4o is shown as extending to a main 'duct 4I that supplies air also tothe burner head 42 which has an air chamber therein adapted to supply air at 'i3 into the open end of the burner, if desired.

This `form of burner operatesv substantially in the same manner as described above in connection with Figs. l to 3, to admit air to the under side of the fuel bed during the rotation of the burner and at intervals along the length of the burner.

V1. A Arotary burner 'comprising a cylindrical 'structure adapted to contain a fuel bed therein, means mounting said structure for rotary movevment about an approximately Vhorizontal axis, said structure having a surrounding T-flange with out-turned ange Aportions spaced from the periphery of the tubular structure, Imeans Yconnected with said T-flange for rotating the tubular StruCturdsaidtubular structure having aplurality of series of ports in the surrounding wall thereof spaced apart axially of'said structure and with the ports of each series spaced circumferentially of said structure, 'a band extending Aabout the burner over each series of ports and rotatably receiving the burner therein,`saidband havingfan edge portion 'thereof lunderlying 'the adjacent flange portion of the T-flange, said Aband lextending over 'the ports enclosing'k said .ports throughout a substantial portion'fo'f. the circumference of theistructure and having an y'opening therethrough .registering with the iports `in 'a segment of the burner, landa wind 'boxf'connected with the band and enclosing said opening for .supplying air thereto, said -wind box underlying `the "flange 'portion :ofthe T-ilange of the vburner -'andconiinedthereby. Y

"2; A `rotary 'burner comprising -a cylindrical Ystructure adapt-ed tor'ece'ive a fuel :bed therein, means mounting said structure 'for rotary movement about an approximately horizontal axis,

i said structure having axially spaced oiset wall portions, each of said oiset Wall portions having a series of circumferentially spaced ports therethrough for admitting air into the tubular structure, bands enclosing the tubular structure for rotation of said structure relative thereto, each oi' said bands having a flanged portion thereon covering the ports throughout a portion of the circumference of the burner and having an opening in said flange extending through a segment of the burner for admitting air through the ports in said segment, and a wind box enclosing said opening for supplying air therethrough.

3. A rotary burner comprising a cylindrical structure adapted to receive a. iuel bed therein and mounted for turning movement, said structure having an off-set Wall portion, said off-set wall -portion having a series of circumferentially spaced ports therethrough for admitting air into the tubular structure, a band enclosing the tubular structure for rotation of said tubular structure relative thereto, said band having an off-set portion thereon covering the ports throughout a portion of the circumference of the burner and having an opening in said portion of the band extending through a segment of the burner for admitting air through said opening and through the ports registering therewith into the structure.

4. A rotary burner comprising a cylindrical structure adapted to contain a fuel bed therein, means mounting said cylindrical structure for rotary movement about an approximately horizontal axis, said cylindrical structure having a series of ports through the surrounding wall thereof, said series extending circumferentially of the structure, and a substantially at band extending about the cylindrical structure and directly engaging the surrounding wall and closely fitting said Wall throughout the major portion of the width of the band and vrotatably receiving said cylindrical structure therein, said band having a portion thereof covering the ports throughout the major portion of the circumference of the cylindrical structure, and a Windbox connected with the band and extending throughout the remaining segment of the circumference of the cylindrical structure for admitting air only through the ports in said segment.v

WESTON M. FULTON. 

